When a player can't decode HDCD, it needs to be decoded in the receiver or pre/pro that it's connected to. Unfortunately, however, HDCD support seems to be unavailable in most current generation audio equipment. A few universal players, like those from Oppo, and some dedicated CD players can still decode it, but I don't know of any almost-reasonably-priced current model receiver or pre/pro that does, not even the top-of-the-line Marantz AV8801.

When a player can't decode HDCD, it needs to be decoded in the receiver or pre/pro that it's connected to. Unfortunately, however, HDCD support seems to be unavailable in most current generation audio equipment. A few universal players, like those from Oppo, and some dedicated CD players can still decode it, but I don't know of any almost-reasonably-priced current model receiver or pre/pro that does, not even the top-of-the-line Marantz AV8801.

It seems like one approach would be to decode the HDCD on a PC using a decoder program such as:

That will do nothing good, since the 20 bit HDCD extension, burned on a CD will be truncated to 16 bit.

Now, true, some of the current HDCD recordings (like Lady Antebellum - Own The Night) don't use the range extension of HDCD, they record the CD trough HDCD mixer board just for the filters quality. But that is just a particular case, not the norm.

That will do nothing good, since the 20 bit HDCD extension, burned on a CD will be truncated to 16 bit.

Now, true, some of the current HDCD recordings (like Lady Antebellum - Own The Night) don't use the range extension of HDCD, they record the CD trough HDCD mixer board just for the filters quality. But that is just a particular case, not the norm.

But then why would he need to decode it and burn a regular cd? A regular cd player will still play the hdcd without decoding the extra 4 bits. The process you suggest is not necessary.

The HDCD is not decoded exactly right when you play it on a regular CD player. What I'm suggesting is decode it exactly right, and then remove the low order bits in a way that preserves low level detail, which a Red Book player by definition can't do.

The only way to decode it 'right' is to play on a HDCD enabled CD/DVD/AVR player. Like Denon DCM-380, DVD-2910, 2930, 3930, AVR-3805 from my collection (just an example)...
Sure, the best way is to use a player with the 'official' PCM100 filter, but those tend to be expensive today.

Foobar2000 can decode it from any wav or flac file but it is not known how accurate it is since kode54 didn't disclose how he got the algorithm. WMP can decode it from CD's only (and since MS owns the HDCD logo now so it might be correct). But running those via crappy internal on-board sound card is an exercise in futility.

The only way to decode it 'right' is to play on a HDCD enabled CD/DVD/AVR player. Like Denon DCM-380, DVD-2910, 2930, 3930, AVR-3805 from my collection (just an example)...
Sure, the best way is to use a player with the 'official' PCM100 filter, but those tend to be expensive today.

Foobar2000 can decode it from any wav or flac file but it is not known how accurate it is since kode54 didn't disclose how he got the algorithm. WMP can decode it from CD's only (and since MS owns the HDCD logo now so it might be correct). But running those via crappy internal on-board sound card is an exercise in futility.

The fallacy here is the idea that something has to be flawed if we don't know exactly how it works.

Now if you had a technical test or a reliable listening test to back up your claim...